ST516a Devil's Gorge detour vs ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino
A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.
Units
| ST516a Devil's Gorge detour | ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 5.5 mi9 km | 15.0 mi24 km |
| Elevation gain | 1,677 ft511 m | 1,457 ft444 m |
| Typical duration | 1 day | 2 days |
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | International | International |
| Country | Bulgaria | Bulgaria |
| Best time to hike | Best months: June, August, September | Best months: June, August, September, October |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
ST516a Devil's Gorge detour vs ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino: which should you hike?
At 15.0 mi24 km, ST523 Shadeetsa - Ardino is the longer route — roughly 9.4 mi15 km more than ST516a Devil's Gorge detour (5.5 mi9 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, ST516a Devil's Gorge detour is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.